Squire keeling



v sheethsneet 1. S. KEELING. STEP LADDER.

(No Model.)

No. 477,843. Patented June 28, 1892.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s. KEELING; STEP LADDER. No. 477,843. Patented June 28, 1892..

UNITED STATE-s} PATENT OFFICE.

SQUIRE KEELING, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES -WHEART'Y, OF SAME PLACE.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,843, dated June 28, 1892. Application filed January 23 1892. Serial No. 419,007. (No model.)

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SQUIRE KEELING, a citien of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Step- Ladder, the construction of which is fully set forth in this specification and the annexed drawings.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an extensible ladder which maybe easily folded for transportation or storage and which may be partially extended for convenient use in stores'or other places where a short'ladder is required or may be fully extended for use where a longer ladder is necessarygalso, to so construct the ladder that it will be light, du-

rable, and easy to handle, and when extended be Well braced, so as not to collapse in use, as the ordinary step-ladder is wont to do.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the ladder extended to its full length. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the ladder folded for storage or transportation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the ladder partially extended. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 40f Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side view of the ladder placed horizontally preparatory to folding same.

Similar letters indicate similar parts in all the views.

In the drawings I have shown a six-foot ladder having six steps; but ladders constructed in the same manner may be made of any. convenient length.

The steps A of the ladder are suitably secured to parallel side rails B, two at each end of the steps. Between the side rails are blocks which serve to strengthen the frame. The step-frame is made in two sections, an upper and a lower section, which cent ends joined by hinges b, secured by rivets or screws to the back of the side rails B.

To the under side and near each end of the top step is secured one leaf of a strap-hinge C, the other leaf of said hinge being secured to the upper end of each of the standards D. The standards D are in two parts, having their adjacent ends joined bya hinge d, suitably secured to the back of the standard.

The lower sections of the standards are joined have their adjaby diagonal braces d, which prevent the standards from spreading. To the front side rails B are secured blocks 12 To the back of each of these blocks one leaf of a strap-hinge b is secured, the other leaf of said hinge being secured to the upper side of each of the extension-arms E. Each of the extensionarms Econsists of two sections, the front end of each section being hinged toone of the blocks b as alreadydescribed, the adjacent ends of the sections being joined by a straphinge e, having one leaf suitably secured to the under side of each section, and the rear end of each section being connected with the standard D by means of a strap-hinge d of which one leaf is secured to upper face of the extension arm E and the other leaf is secured to the front of the standard D. The practical operation of the device is evident from the description.

Where a long ladder is required, the sec tions are extended to their full length, as

clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Where a short ladder is required, the folded ladder shown in Fig. 2 may he leaned against a counter, a wall, orany suitable support and used in that way, or the sections may be partially extended, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the revolved upper section of the step-frame will serve as a support for the lower section.

To fold the ladder, take hold of the upper section and revolve the step-frame on the lower ends of the side rails as an axis until the step-frame assumes a horizontal position, as shown in diagram Fig. 6. In that position it will be observed that the angle formed by the arms E with the side rails B is an acute angle, so that when the step-frame is in a horizontal position that section of the arms E adjacent to the rails B will gravitate toward the step-frame, thereby breaking the joint of the extension-arms E and permitting the standards D to fall by gravity into a position parallel to the side rails B. The upper sections of the step-frame and the standards are then turned on the hinges b and d, respectively, until they assume a position parallel to the lower sections.

What I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a step-ladder, the combination of the side rails, the blocks joining the side rails, the steps connecting the extension-armswith the standsecured tothe-side-rails, the standards hinged ards, substantially as set forth,-and for the t0 the step-frame, the hinges midway of the purpose stated.

standards, the blocks secn red to the side rails, SQUIRE KEELING. 5 the hinges connecting the extension-arms with Witnesses:

the blocks, the extension-arms, the hinges B. E. CARVER,

midway 0f the extension-arms, and thehing'cs 'i ISAAC GASKIN. 

